Tank device for temperature pressure relief in a fuel cell tank

Abstract

A tank device for temperature pressure relief in a fuel cell tank, the tank device comprising at least two tank containers and a supply line which can be connected to the tank containers, each of the at least two tank containers having at least one shutoff valve at one end, the shutoff valve being arranged between the respective tank container and the supply line. At least one safety valve is arranged at another end of the tank container, wherein at least the at least two tank containers and the respective safety valve are at least almost completely enclosed by a housing element and/or are encapsulated from an environment. A positive pressure prevails in the housing element, wherein the housing element contains a temperature-sensitive material, wherein the meltable medium of the safety valve melts when the pressure prevailing in the inner space falls, and thus opens the safety valve.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tank device ( 1 ) for temperature pressure relief in a fuel cell tank, the tank device ( 1 ) comprising at least two tank containers ( 2 ) and a supply line ( 4 ) configured to be connected to the tank containers ( 2 ), each of the at least two tank containers ( 2 ) having at least one shutoff valve ( 8 ) at one end ( 20 ), said shutoff valve ( 8 ) being arranged between the respective tank container ( 2 ) and supply line ( 4 ), at least one respective safety valve ( 10 ) being arranged at another end ( 21 ) of the tank container ( 2 ), characterized in that the at least two tank containers ( 2 ) and the respective safety valves ( 10 ) are at least almost completely enclosed by a housing element ( 24 ) and/or are encapsulated from an environment ( 190 ), a positive pressure ( 181 ) prevailing in the housing element ( 24 ), the housing element ( 24 ) containing a temperature-sensitive material ( 25 ), the safety valves ( 10 ) opening when the pressure prevailing in the inner space ( 180 ) falls. 
     
     
       2. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the respective safety valve ( 10 ) comprises a meltable medium ( 71 ). 
     
     
       3. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the meltable medium ( 71 ) of the respective safety valve ( 10 ) melts in the event of a temperature increase in the environment ( 190 ) and thus opens the respective safety valve ( 10 ). 
     
     
       4. The tankTank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the housing element ( 24 ) has an inner space ( 180 ), and the respective safety valve ( 10 ) has a pressure sensor ( 72 ) which, in the event of a pressure change in the inner space ( 180 ), activates a heating element ( 73 ) which heats the meltable medium ( 71 ) of the safety valve ( 10 ). 
     
     
       5. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the temperature-sensitive material ( 25 ) has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of a material of the tank container ( 2 ). 
     
     
       6. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing element ( 24 ) has an inner space ( 180 ), and at least one additional valve ( 13 ), is located on at least one of the at least two tank containers ( 2 ), the additional valve ( 13 ) effecting a continuous release of the hydrogen from the respective tank container ( 2 ) into the inner space ( 180 ). 
     
     
       7. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each tank container ( 2 ) is configured to be connected to a discharge line ( 11 ) by the respective safety valve ( 10 ). 
     
     
       8. A fuel cell system ( 31 ) comprising a tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. A fuel-cell-powered vehicle comprising a tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       10. A tank device ( 1 ) for temperature pressure relief in a fuel cell tank, the tank device ( 1 ) comprising at least two tank containers ( 2 ) and a supply line ( 4 ) configured to be connected to the tank containers ( 2 ), each of the at least two tank containers ( 2 ) having at least one shutoff valve ( 8 ) at one end ( 20 ), said shutoff valve ( 8 ) being arranged between the respective tank container ( 2 ) and supply line ( 4 ), at least one respective safety valve ( 10 ) being arranged at another end ( 21 ) of the tank container ( 2 ), characterized in that the at least two tank containers ( 2 ) and the respective safety valves ( 10 ) are at least almost completely enclosed by a housing element ( 24 ) and/or are encapsulated in a pressure-tight manner, from an environment ( 190 ), a positive pressure ( 181 ) in relation to the environment ( 190 ) and/or to an ambient pressure ( 191 ) prevailing in the an inner space ( 180 ) of the housing element ( 24 ), the housing element ( 24 ) containing a temperature- sensitive material ( 25 ), which is plastic, the safety valves ( 10 ) opening when the positive pressure ( 181 ) prevailing in the inner space ( 180 ) falls. 
     
     
       11. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the respective safety valve ( 10 ) comprises a meltable wax ( 71 ), so that the respective safety valve ( 10 ) is a melt safety valve ( 10 ). 
     
     
       12. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the meltable medium ( 71 ) of the respective safety valve ( 10 ) melts in the event of a temperature increase in the environment ( 190 ) and thus opens the respective safety valve ( 10 ). 
     
     
       13. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the temperature-sensitive material ( 25 ) has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of a material of the tank container ( 2 ). 
     
     
       14. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the housing element ( 24 ) has an inner space ( 180 ), and the respective safety valve ( 10 ) has a pressure sensor ( 72 ) which, in the event of a pressure change in the inner space ( 180 ), activates a heating element ( 73 ) which heats the meltable medium ( 71 ) of the safety valve ( 10 ). 
     
     
       15. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the temperature-sensitive material ( 25 ) has a melting temperature below the melting temperature of a material of the tank container ( 2 ). 
     
     
       16. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the housing element ( 24 ) has an inner space ( 180 ), and at least one additional valve ( 13 ), which is a pressure relief valve ( 13 ), is located on at least one of the at least two tank containers ( 2 ), the additional valve ( 13 ) effecting a continuous release of the hydrogen from the respective tank container ( 2 ) into the inner space ( 180 ). 
     
     
       17. The tank device ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that each tank container ( 2 ) is configured to be connected to a discharge line ( 11 ) by the respective safety valve ( 10 ).